Virtually the entire township of Marysville, population 600, in the Yarra Valley has been destroyed by bushfires. Victoria’s Country Fire Authority says thankfully everyone was safe.

Residents were safely evacuated to the local sports ground, Gallipoli Park. Emergency response crews had been having difficulty accessing the town because of fallen trees blocking roads. Only one building is still standing.

The Marysville fire is now threatening the township of Taggerty.

The heatwave that has enveloped most of New South Wales continues as bands of firefighters work in 40-plus degree heat. A southerly change is forecast to reduce temperatures by at least 10 degrees but will not arrive until later today.

A high of 45 degrees is again affecting the far west town of Ivanhoe. Most inland parts of the state will swelter in temperatures between the mid-30s and mid-40s. Sydney’s CBD will see a high of 33 but in the western suburbs the mercury will rocket to 43.

Fire crews are battling 59 fires across New South Wales with 10 of them burning out of control. 

Source / newstalkzb.co.nz

At least 35 killed in Aussie Bushfires

SYDNEY – Police say the confirmed death toll from wildfires that swept southeastern Australia has risen to 35.

Victoria state police spokeswoman Sarah Campbell said that officials found bodies at 12 different sites across a zone that was blasted by huge wildfires

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